What is a Brain Injury?

Brain Injury is exactly what the name suggests. It is an injury to the brain which can be caused in a variety of ways and can leave varying degrees and types of impact to the person. Injury can occur and be obvious to everyone after an auto accident, a fall or an event that strikes the person’s skull. Brain activity can be compromised but not readily noticed when an injury takes place more subtly from a slight stroke, a lack of oxygen during a routine surgery or a bout with hypertension. The scale of degree and impact is wide. A new brain injury occurs every 21 seconds in America.

Why isn’t everyone talking about it? Why do we know more about erectile disfunctionthan brain injury? Why aren’t various contact sports members wearing silver ribbons for brain injury awareness? There is a stigma attached to having issues with one’s brain activity. A brain injury can affect a person’s cognitive processes and therefore behavior. Different behavior can illicit labels of “crazy, nuts, stupid, foolish, or screwball” from society that observes from a distance. Anger and depression can plague someone with a brain injury. Years of misunderstanding of our complicated and intricate brains have opened the doors of cultural judgement and disdain for those who are challenged with brain issues. It takes experiencing a stroke, an aneurism, or a slip and fall incident to put one inside the arena of understanding what it is like to be misunderstood.

B.R.A.I.N. has a vision to advance research, recovery and residential care for those who live with brain injury. We want to come along side of you while you journey this challenging road of injury and misunderstanding. Please look through our web site and contact us at sue@thebrainsite.org or 714-625-7225.